New garden city Ebbsfleet is connected for commuters

Ebbsfleet in Kent may be best known for its train station’s excellent journey times to London in 18 minutes but it’s also Britain’s first new garden city for 100 years.

Thousands of new homes are to be built each with their own individual style and identity in the distinct residential areas of Castle Hill and Springhead Park, from cottages to larger properties, clustered around village greens and grand terraces of houses in tree-lined streets.  

It’s a long-term 20 year plan with 17 million square feet shared out between residential, business, retail, leisure and community uses with 40% open space and parkland. Up to 10,000 homes and thousands of jobs will be created all with the unique selling point of fast mainline connections to London and Paris from Ebbsfleet International.  

Ebbsfleet Valley also aims to be the first fully optical fibre-based community in the UK capable of information and communication connectivity previously only available to high-technology businesses with ultra-fast connection speeds, HD TV, and community intranet services.

Iain McPherson, managing director of new homes and communities at Countryside, comments: “This is the ideal time to buy into Ebbsfleet Garden City, which is rapidly becoming a shining example of successful place making, creating a new community where people can live, work, study and relax. Buyers at Springhead Park are well positioned to benefit from massive inward investment and job creation, which will drive demand and support house price growth.”

Rachael Baillie, sales director for Redrow Homes (South East), explains: “Leaving London is very much a lifestyle choice and increasingly people are appreciating that by moving out of the capital their budget will go further. When it comes to commuting Ebbsfleet International station offers five trains an hour to Kings Cross or St Pancras at peak times, enabling buyers to live conveniently close to the capital, but without having to pay the premiums a London address commands.”

As well as having its own shops, bars and restaurants, Ebbsfleet is right next door to Bluewater, Europe’s largest shopping centre, offering a choice of more than 330 stores, 40 cafes, bars and restaurants, and a 13-screen cinema.

Castle Hill will include its own shops and leisure facilities such as country parks, tennis courts, play areas, outdoor events space for community events, as well as allotments. A network of paths and cycleways will run throughout Castle Hill connecting the development to Ebbsfleet Garden City, which is also part of the Government’s Healthy New Towns programme.

Schools include St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School and the brand new Cherry Orchard Primary School for 400 students opening in September 2017.  Dartford Grammar, Wilmington Grammar for Girls, Ebbsfleet Academy, Longfield Academy, Northfleet Technology College and Northfleet School for Girls are local state secondary schools. There is a range of independent schools in Kent and within driving distance including the Bronte School and Steephill Independent preps schools.

A monthly season ticket to London costs £432.80 from Ebbsfleet International  to St Pancras International is (£4,508 annually) with the fastest journey time of 18 minutes. Trains to Stratford International take 11 minutes (£393.60 monthly, £4,100 annually); London Victoria takes 44 minutes (£432.80 monthly, £4,508 annually); London Bridge takes 53 minutes (£432.80 monthly, £4,508 annually).

The M25, M20, A2 are close by with access to Bluewater Shopping Centre. Central London is 22 miles away (69 minutes), Gatwick Airport 37 miles (38 minutes by road), Stansted 40 miles (50 minutes) and Heathrow 60 miles (just over 1 hour).

Here’s a round-up of great new homes to buy in Ebbsfleet:

The Birches (Charles Church) – These three- and four-bedroom homes are a short drive from Ebbsfleet Station and comprise three floors with open-plan kitchen-dining rooms and separate living rooms with access to the garden. The master bedrooms are ensuite. Prices from £379,950. Find out more about The Birches from Charles Church
Phoenix Quarter (Barratt Homes) – A short drive to two London-bound stations, these three-bedroom homes are set across three floors with a kitchen living area to the ground floor and lounge and bedrooms on the upper floors. Excellent schools are nearby. Prices from £366,995. Find out more about Phoenix Quarter from Barratt Homes	​
Springhead Park (Countryside) - A new phase of 113 two-bedroom coach houses and two-, three- and four-bedroom houses are located within the thriving Ebbsfleet Garden City community and will appeal to a wide cross section of buyers. Prices from £340,000. For more information visit www.springheadpark.co.uk or call 01474 335 195
Castle Hill (Barratt Homes) - Savvy buyers are looking to invest in this innovative new residential village. Barratt’s collection of 112 one-, two- and three-bedroom homes  are built in the local Kentish architecture. Help to Buy is available. Prices start from £229,000. Visit www.barratthomes.co.uk or call 0844 777 0033	​
Ebbsfleet Green (Redrow Homes) - Perfectly placed for commuting with a journey time of less than 20 minutes from Central London these contemporary homes have access to a new primary school, community centre, a pub/restaurant, convenience store, allotments and sports pitches. Prices start from £232,995. For details visit www.redrow.co.uk or call 01987 208348	​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​